Chapter Fifty–Four
“Kiss me,” I said.
“...What...?”
After leaving home, I‘d headed straight to where I knew they would be. Somewhere I knew that I definitely shouldn‘t be.
But there was no hesitation as I‘d confidently walked up and knocked on their door. And when Cai had answered, I‘d ignored his confusion and demanded the one thing I knew could make me feel better.
Because if it felt anywhere near as good as the first time, then maybe it would be enough to make me forget for a moment that everything was falling to pieces around me.
“Kiss me,” I repeated.
His eyes were wide, stunned at my request, but he wasn‘t moving. I could see he was still in the same attire he‘d been in earlier; the formal clothes making his body somehow look even more fitted.
I quietly sighed impatiently whilst his head tried to comprehend exactly what was happening.
“Aria–.”
However, I didn‘t wait for him to finish his sentence. It wasn‘t words I wanted right now... it was him.
I walked up and pulled on the collar of his shirt until his face was within reach of my own.
“Please, Cai...,” I whispered, as I looked up slowly from his lips to his eyes.
He was so close now that it caused a shiver of anticipation to run through my body. I needed this, I needed him, and I could see in his eyes that he wanted me too. The tension between us was becoming so intense that it felt tangible. 1
The cold night breeze swept around us and it only made the warmth coming from him even more inviting. I loosened the hand I had hooked onto his shirt and ran it all the way along his chest, feeling him under m y touch, until it rested on his broad shoulder. I wanted him closer, his body still feeling too far away.
My heart jumped a little when I saw him finally lean in closer and place his hand on the side of my head, his thumb resting against my cheek tenderly. And instinctively, I closed my eyes as I moved towards him, preparing myself for what would happen next.
But instead of feeling him against my lips, I felt him shift away... and kiss my cheek instead.
“No,” he said quietly. “Not like this.”
I snapped my eyes open to look at him.
“No… no, please, I need this,” I said and grabbed onto him tighter. “Please, Cai... I want you.”
He closed his eyes and looked pained, almost as if he was internally having a battle within himself.
“Aria–”
“No, you said you wanted me,” I said, my voice becoming more frantic. “Why are you doing this now?”
“Because I honestly don‘t know if it‘s me you want right now, or if it‘s just you finding an outlet for your grief.”
I could feel as my cheeks began to burn in humiliation, my eyes tearing up, and instantly I dropped my
side as if he‘d just stung me. His words left me embarrassed and hurt over his rejection, and... angry. Angry that everyone was choosing to disappoint me today of all days.
Chaptei Hity Out
I‘m sick of hearing people saying
to look at me today and yet somehow you‘re now on my doorstep begging for me. Excuse me if I‘m
do you even care? This is what you wanted, right? You just wanted
away, creating a small distance between us. I couldn‘t help but flinch at
think that maybe, deep down, you do actually want me too... but the way
my teeth. “There‘s nothing wrong with me...,” I
see it
calming
do want you... and I honestly want nothing more than for you to tell me right now that I‘m wrong about all of this. But from what I can see, you need help, Aria, and I‘m happy to oblige... but not like that. Not if it‘s just temporary to
I wanted to speak, to tell him he was wrong, but
me you actually want. Or tell me that you want my help, and
the spot decision I had expected to deal with when coming here. I wasn‘t ready for that sort of pressure
thought so,” he said
right now. I…
but Cai called out to me. His expression changed to one of worry and I could feel he was about to chase after me, but I held up a hand to
wait, where are you going?”
around, walking off into the night away from him. There was no point in staying any longer. I was already at the point of
me you‘re going
I kept walking. I kept walking not really knowing
unable to hold it in. I screamed out into the sky; my frustration finally getting the better
I had hoped would act one way, had ended up doing the opposite when I‘d needed them most. I had needed Aleric to believe me, to take
the thoughts out of my head.
been fine before she‘d shown up. Myra would still be alive and I wouldn‘t be fighting with
was beginning to crumble around me, signs of the past starting
then that if Aleric and my father weren‘t willing to do what needed to be done, then
Fuck it.
purpose towards the one place I could get my hands on somethingt o inflict as much pain to someone as I was currently
Thea pay... and I would do it slowly, piece by piece, with the silver blade she used to kill Myra. I would make it agonising for her and ensure that she‘d suffer an even worse death poor Myra.
wasn‘t happy with my intention to defy the order given to me. I winced, crying out in pain as it constricted itself around me,
I began to crawl even as the pain got worse; I was determined to keep going no matter the cost. It was as if a car was thrown on top of my body, crushing me slowly the more I fought against it
it was too late to
head, I repeated the words I needed to tell myself; that I was marked by the Goddess, chosen, a Saintess, and no order should be able to contain me. If I wanted to go kill Thea, then goddammit, I
violently shoved at the restraints in my head, screaming against the unbearable pain it caused, until they finally broke off me like chains... and, instantly, I gasped with relief when the weight was lifted. It was as if an immediate
...I was free.
on my journey, my new freedom only coercing me onwards faster. I kept going until, finally, I came to the building where the evidence was kept locked up. The silver knife would be in there I knew, guarded by at least one warrior, but I wasn‘t concerned. Given how little time had passed since Aleric‘s decision, I was
Beta heir rounds but it felt like I was seeing it in a completely
room up ahead. A room guarded by only one warrior named Ray. Unfortunately, I didn‘t
Ray.” I greeted cautiously in a flat voice, approaching him slowly
saw me enter. “Beta
me to pick something up.
a lie. It was definitely going to help with solving the issue of Myra‘s murderer
Chesterbrity Fou!
uncomfortable, and probably realised
The evidence locker is kept shut until daylight hours. The warriors are
T1I1m3NXdXh7MnHp2KK5H9SRAoQ+YZxnkOdbo+7BJ+WZ6Zner2Sgxk8DB6BRe2b1YjF85LNGFp/Hc5QpxfIKoE6EDjcS0hS9WLqBuCBBzHlyLXuVHeDKJEqFd9G3f+KluPvVJRZ/CzLdNtrJGUGwsMtcSLVxgMVkbyFtksdidA1hRuMvAzSVMegBiPmlnY+HuHNTnNyZEnko0BDYwLokDJha/kzB/iGv0nlwG949f1r4Y1NsyGgUSoG0xei5oNKSWA9cA9KuWemv5HQ+YUNqmb3TMkJBvS4moPY/+Bz1LZoJzGv5ufQSKIdtEtdbgwCdZs/wl4+n6KeFnXZmHiGq7+ySNUzLSzdNAc0FV9nLuvRe1NPL14R+hwNefLc+m/jYn+2cLT6YS2b93D7qFT/z0TuIc3YpW6LVtqr0xMVmPcmldSGxwi2mT8SvLLCqQM3SGBFHpA9qWzcM2xL2NHiZRzKZBGcUUkZMimR1j8YhofzPcpwDWXnha3WD28vWruw5Olg4/qDzFpEG5fgUcSXIomG5ODv+IBkN1LvgczjK/TGM8ZPnJlSOQcnNY34EvEqwKp2hU68iahPkVGLVcKLrMSkjSgCY7nRbkUhEfkXYxmjuxNt8Uve1X4ZsT7WyhaL6mb0aQu85kNpY/A0E3HoEHkSkI3cOZd2b6hkl8kLNNVGD80wo7VDL88bsaJRF4SjQWI/+Ja8E7yZ81HaYTtTvMUDJEBjACt0kQyJmVyqXfQctXPvl4ksOkUXVYxN0X78JDxNXPDqwbPgkl3v8fDT5hcwuDKC/VprOXFfa+4eyn4Ye78s9m3rDV/WkphH6yN8Cxp0tI2ErTuempcMyglzSyvUUZzMtqBV2tsZKUnGcCULUNJm+GyPCAfK7P1FDMa6+fTdm4CH6ucjHPtEddzPP10uyGvc/d2sAk/wS9F/2do2Qm+6hFRBnTzK0/qq2AN2RJNuqcwV161dSCk6/zMiQwZf3xxBKNgqLo/dUfkYLNqjBHfXScLRqjeLi4ldlgCDxHGsxUl5fCEXx6VpwDaQAH7Yzwz7b2b776Rhk2Q8VJUZhlJRcs1Njp/Jbz+8LDxhxozwwuSOHG4/OVG850FZnk08u1TXz2N+VcpP5bYAzfSs7D3yWRstvkhKrwxbBqhlXh0/0w6/jPjGEvuSVMJL1h2J43qLcjRFJNFKjrIvEYPO992mMypbQjqQSKhBC17q7kfiECTzDeGmTomSiXWa6eWiUUlVUlAMaayR1/uzA/YC094T76eSzj6mEeIpOxFZ41l7zj+G42/wBNzxBLZgU/P1SxcHFDjS58yTFc7fu7FtpbgiPlRkInxelTOb9OL/ag14ZINcFyf9DKTmTXM1QIX3f/XAZTFBThMJgPgjsspyj0X15h+TfoaJf/hp3UIKGEcTXwR29aAHdWObV/0gxmV+WxHiCiItctJo7FiQ38K3cOPxAw5UUl/OkzVs4tQXNVT9bdFFIvZMArl7yC9IAozFcG37GzrbbNSScAilgUFrnOs+Ic4iV1I3KfNImuYnvm70am2Sno5jpyqFuu1OMowOMGTSsgf1PgMedL4E+UYfyzWyEd4YQxatBolrKD01hVpVWFMDEEziEausFU8MK6kTMLKQkqoeW9zmVs6552Fso3tfQacONXQDNafvgQUAj6YeVSnOp+ZAYkc54+jnEDptmB7KkUoNor/xJe7uihs/FJlJHw4s4tg9uCAMP5amy2HvWXEsG3/MIhl05UuLIvEenxlKQLAA67Saql0+BNMMzT0AcbcBgK2l3RTEgYzvlRHzBv8C8/ElIE+RG0SH5R/kyGc7n1XV/5qFLe+Rey92Cnu6JjuLBNKx68YJjpue4N2IYQGBOXPlfy0GmzgR46ZYCT5XfK/Umz76VCXyxVHLcOOAR+l6mcftiudPsbTZy/cdwQDCCvOAGSNJsB6dJ9Y54YSIQtGHISO2G8+qcefl/9wGyzDFTPuQzYPGG2aOqnzr7iMDtQxjFc+0mlT7SiqAT0DliWkZGwcjN82d7rsJMgyBzKV6PD8krmYDupVmbrRMCPss7ktqX1sf/i4BHqdhYuZCnwQU/nEJTYl0KsTFw/zdwlmFgd8Jo75BrLtg7C+GFHH8IpblSM2PsR/WrFHVL7MFbsdCiF/XiY6QFG94pAUCmRoyy9hCnSz7kzskvVxXLduFdsEZHrEe9Lk0Q+Mq2rRrIx2p/QR02Tr9xLFKpMltJRwQnS5G3YqLKH3rfpZGbBnlQYbBbT482ONkgXtMpd6IlCDBPLjEdIfx+Wx5zFmTdW3Kd2tKT6Vo+2RWUcot2BT2cZnMVX8QeCBRr6YTSaaZG40zysGC1+rvBkCQyZh/O7mScFUxBB0X7TYSH+CmVhgp5WCVQpWUuwp6N12TSZVT/TSLysti6vCBLGZsK5NZaXtrJQ2hR8VcePfMCF5kjBfat174ZgRJ4m6TDk7pF3Bl+ilW7gPVhXwTHugu4CwScJXh5za56IUb5DWP3eVrBqp8fgP6r4CWbzZAJgNWJhR07oO4TpkFRLN6qTr/5ywdi6QfsFqScOslVtWkIqedfbzp6cPSWkNyxU+dxcR/GaxEzJzvdT+qcT/nXzdTbGdx+qVFYL0KfpnoG8VxZmyJ3r0kNMBevJAPRtnR8R3NrmkCRUAHdmxT/7gaqls1fsBMmHDzq1+nRnUpdCKBMqPAgulFWgk5jrY5TlK467CYR8u3j6Z6tnUM/liK0foZzhfAe1ppYRmSNkOMvR7Xr3KEhqnOqLb0fAjC+L1kvdRuH3UYCL8NmFyQdhmAnG+ngyc/eiosE49bUeokkrWFyXCgWc2pBp+dvYtTViz/ApiaJbpMfStbr/pomEhuFUOm82l+N6Wqq2u/nN5EIrKJC+okHktwz03vrF/E3lpPyvvTqbGTz57S+QdcAQELZzw7SgWZfJoC6K+zKioRF/OIJTh/G/k+X/Tq3lQgt6gfhyVUhNx2yUgtjK6Z9+Jl34UFT0V+NjdHsiTi4O97FyyZilDylUJTWdFFsd3wkI3jas3ex6XdvAfy3PhuXDsHIB5eqz3EG1Gqmau9J5mlekPiD0XDNtwaYHCVXpStgze47YgIEXIl5+qrb+FVvxaxFV83TUURtyOYShga/pOkslPR0hZeAQc1q4OgGZlb/K102OHWE7Dya2+1mCdkcB/od1oAl9CzqkGqlkiVHJGCNPHrRLudqcAzwVjeGRkdHu8gapvEicE5ZcEVWJa1wNeHgX1WMLm7AHWq7syh0js/5i7PESLtkShMZYdwm3/7SU9mSValep4DtS90eTsa9mqA/7KsmHWcWgsAgphLV8YmCxOQhrde9hn+1XinLcJ8LWFg8Jcn+nW7FOMaq0ijHP8gm1MCdNIuOyzdQdEtD4TJdqFXZCR6C4Ly3LaKOwgi5RjfcKEgZVv+fWKAwf+PdcmHWILwTUgDXSUh7zXoO+gJHcbC4nnOpbUWVio7vsU9iwrlpsoco/q3tPkwX4Dzlicj3AJh6eXViOnhh/3Cz5l5+CmbNNGQc/6mAd1XzcPkEJNq5n2mQohMB2WdrxZu8S+Usgh6PQvjFXRQsWs8EkJ3pcwjMIOjlReT8zVNuCvE54zkFdzci4YCCZDIKsz3FXkrx82w1E6qJe5ra7KOeEebRs9Mbyda9gdZXVJc4H5nT7IED+V2hzVEgHJBJK3TAusWQrDNE9S39kGvDtxngYeJWoiDFNrKJPEEuIJWM4d0NacvZ3WUNHDBSif2WYEJv8uTEa24a+i1uDs0bYToBNNEHSuLqa81Y0iw9JtO2wHhJlBZuC8Xu6Jr8xVKCJOHbSOb1TNr66u+GbAB3bJoYqvpyi7/k4vCntLgA5R7+eWa+nvJSQcJX8rjPaWJWkcv7Xjl6gub5NoyTBgPZ2K+xbIeMYscIQK3DH5pmwxgUqHpSgYR0hG2y9K1S9J3TrZSPyrk9AAzJKWuz3FM5S5Y7YCLgYMZfkv/1fP+rSsteXfVmzjXZfCxS+c2ev2HJBBQFmrACME9u4E/33aST+OiH9OVH7D1Qow/KBFJk871z+OSSZ62z8EUtWArCpbO9fAn8WYt28KROvr9+c5isn6N5KQJnE6KHHyJ2175qzl6do3FfIjchVuyq+s7e7aqYEEzzQ/kvCxLPNUQ9DjJyD298iTHvY7gApyiXlp8erGHIDdKPfAwR4TuvBdpHz5miSU21Wb5piE67lebtlaHA+TOEY7lmCm4x7AP2AiaxhbMCs6Bxk8D+tNfMUe4jYSHDlvHIyV6RhwxsSFsSpYiAju2mnuzC5n6+ZJzEqfnfyG5FJUBihAWuVYJaF9IMvR4LzS1hb9a5MqKQFt7hlQgzN9/i1tBuSIPuYeCW8Uxwl/WqBxbOvibSpwiLgE3DyctglALXinCG0Lvu0MWY4tZkVFzwd4akfcBOPpyMl0xmM6NI9zek93JRKE37yVbu+jFpbPIbyX9SgPoHwlrzd8eUs2MaoYNON0HRagHxJLv2/CMKS3fnxDNKQAIfA292wzSzkC9UNaqZHUT8h9wKrhlzUhq7Ay5qdfkpM/lza/rvf9xESdaw5zKiqoUYQNlvP+i12vvNckn+fiORMrVE3FGKehRhqc0MIbFk1ZK05PSNVNk2aqpruZul/WBi8GkbyJcrZdiaH1nywubB3ca/qwHkBTxiNO90Ryo6vK//DwGh7LmOvGryZs/Iu5tyN82zgThkphu20MD3DYDq26YGmaasm55zt9qd7IjNMpiqx9RiWt2V3h25aB4QzXhGHXW/ysTVaEAXJQRDqBr5TH5QBxq02dT0UVeFvrO2Uk3/QLemUuZO3Gro2c7ULW1mBuZtQ1YhOkKPsrbpTaIX4QGNBFivLfUxYye9MkoaI6+KYF3NJJj3fG7MnBSah06Zs4dsflZwEF/8fALSNAEGsV5g5PFLMtxR0KZyG2wUIf43L07JiMS+CyW2An/TtMCAR+un22JTiXXis0T/ZoDK70VOOpL35cdNXUStW2du0ww7RB/4Rpf5qZqCTeG0k1SKl6uAF1TnagaMLoS94h/gBFW6tjWcWi/hOQw2FVchlIqA8M5JIXsXo8RZ0hc7zrZ2YLB5L5KZqashIoOPrKXcSD7JSVYAkleSVPsy640Temj+GcqI3MpU/fuWcX22HKwYr1znijG3yInXiPiRyswHO2uPUBKYDLvc/ICcy2x8q3x5TnMR9ySMOM0bv9xlXjgxi6YhpKEY+gkRJ9WcX25lX4eKpoO0DEL/0otLwBGUQsa2ay67VRj987KCE+q1gzfaMX5iecOaSbZyb9gZpto9JIARZbwuRct+yzKxJeUlItLPJeq7hpF1scJ5SJegg7xirh4LoLg1Nk0J2sy7Ot2FIHoQHUCzF/PmjXJrmL/VIS4vJqT0W4Oy6/lp2Uae1zHD79wpQN1fPVgRpn4f9F0mrNDmbhG/FshroN55VgqAFldl5s0a9jiIyFVbd6EJy+mM+irGQegwSuGxST9Aq9nQTgaJnJFUYAO1oiEIoMG0XLmSQZt0aRFP8CP+omPIiwEQZBGGo++SJ9c3QAO+ZmLPA8aikCWazXzy+ajKdRqsfdkEaOXAPssq8a7yS0WQbW4UkqCbIXMnIwgvY65g59ZaWmR3EUgDMiYZSSAB6ig+szSIjVAU6SB5NcDB8WAow/HFzSprZMKOIZzswlKghn59SLJw+s+ZdM8JDryHanD+cG4ev1Jfggiu4ifzO9qgYDnRnCvl7n6IFfQwe9HK8Scswk07PIBWCF1YagoT/B/E7ygCEY+3OPsE3zYO1AAXFQ3hqFa2jxakcld/L3jJRVaYwv4+gHm5qAp5wfw6EszePoYuN0IMF3pKRdkzTgeKdNJwn+6SanJQfPHN5Q14dsFEQLqI4FaCApJd6CsPrUSF2eNa0wPNwMHkQ1Bk4RzBKSEiwduc93VdkbFTLqHHwhOWyMlAms7VG0lJm/GQcObgNB3oXsPGxQuqL5GSMIkRLvo9JpGIp7SzsApOFoGtJ60odg5SMxgV0nRuZMDvgBHK+FE5X4ObBVNtXgI6Rw14UshJe9G5+OjA4jDqnnLq6tC6u+dR4gkXqQOdmmtDnCywN+ZEa7cS1H9iV48q/dvdxwssShJNo8OLkxk0YEo5UyffpfbsLPaR233jO00aN5kIBNVRdnPURUGlsqUsiWOJj6ViB07GFjLSSRjFGFgjFT+JA+fydjMkwkOcc724yBKNStVNQJHnT0FC+jLAl1qCeC4zZXF/2RTYAYtg/cjSPUAFKYuuQ+HQOXyLMg0k2Mro4t+YRIUG/6UPoqQ8weQ6G/8300fOqlsbWXqacyNsR+oWu0AFgjufwVL89xAX6NpMTnLxIvj0rXgc0rKDjigJCnXi/ccTc/aDa+z6M421KUBvNApVQJdndv/1YpJ9uOAefV8a2iDU2vzHAksuuFJNpnTFI5KmkoW8n4HWnY6HvgUdifm7dOiu/P9PEZWk8M8A7v+CU3SjsM6JLPJG3GOXCjB/iwIjX+f7i+xbCxSj8Iz13syefHWazsIlLQcL17EHKjXKtEaXrthZ9Di71mtrDOdlwBcT/xuA42FM4VzWy7A/U4m4vhSWAokCj4yuflyKu0TTdOOcAjFLSS7XwF6Z/4umxIUtcV14IaBwu8PZrFjvq1GT9IYqICWyBuAm2R2ulpBGYxAfzjdC8DGI4ord/Urh6C5TxR/4d1Cx/tplZm4i86goOWGReXkr+9tdueaumVsKwQWupUzjy223fWBVdV/bQu4JLEEg7J+xQp/MZgzBrJt2evPLQpPEW6o/x/DXH8WxW4BuszqjqMKF5Yfe/B0Xp7pozgseT+c86fVQmpfw+Gm+RyyV6TvVd2N8qy1k9L4ERLtmSdSWPfoFPB12qXBITIhWSYHUSGP47mz5jP3CyH8eZ6ZiRRYkJ8vlXYXGVw6qjGRtaRFR+N8p6FFIgWNbNJ2GP8Tpk3CB+rg7koptMx6QK+R4t8OgEFvCXvr0oNRi46qWAk17AdI3VLhMAbJjrJ0hzweHwUEDnFS8fKIoXA7w9xHvq1wVJDExh7vCS6PxHVX/CDxZ45foSImucva8U+3quHxtZV0LRW/ZihVKYm1X86bbknJqrd+krvrizgcS+8VOifih8UF93K8wQEw6WZeWoAamk5tsZWgiWsUh3TbHXYUBlqcaxfqBc74JNqBcr2FudIdTows5cBeEjXhj88A9kgLDoEDvT0qpNixH/wGx8AopL/oARHoHBoflGvpr4FOeTytVNHJNU/VhZhJqvX9H8pZOYnFHjYDk8a0jnpB16ifjdNwObbAv9NnmmL8MDQpKYKK+gRIHnQ==
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!